Experts Gather in Komárno to Discuss the Future of Social Economy

Experts and policymakers met in Komárno, a city in southern Slovakia, to discuss the future direction of social economy — an economic model that prioritizes social welfare and community benefit over pure profit. Slovak MEP Branislav Ondruš, a member of the European Parliament, told participants that there is broad consensus across Europe that the economy must serve people more effectively. The discussion reflected a growing debate within the European Union about reorienting economic policy toward greater social inclusion and sustainability, with social economy models — including cooperatives, social enterprises, and non-profit organizations — increasingly seen as tools for addressing inequality and unemployment.